The Hunger Games: On Stage | Education Matinee 2026

On Wednesday 10 June, Go Live Theatre, EMG and Runway Entertainment collaborated to host a special Education Matinee of The Hunger Games: On Stage at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre.

Go Live Theatre invited state secondary schools, SEND specialist schools, and Pupil Referral Units for an afternoon of extraordinary stunts and epic illusions. Marking Go Live Theatre’s first-ever collaboration with The Hunger Games, the event saw phenomenal demand, with this schools-only performance selling out in just two hours!

The Education Matinee was a resounding success: 100% of teachers stated the experience met their expectations, and 97% of pupils expressed an interest in returning to the theatre.

Student Demographics & Impact:

• 37% of the pupils attended the theatre for the first time
• 62% of the pupils that attended are from a Global Majority background
• 46% of the pupils that attended have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• 36% of the pupils that attended had English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Teacher Testimonials

They highlighted that the subsidised pricing removed vital financial barriers and provided excellent creative inspiration for arts education in schools:

“The ability to allow young people to access the performing arts is pivotal to my teaching practise. Drama is a pathway to allow students with learning differences to make sense of the world around them and to build social and emotional skills beyond the basic subject. Accessing high-quality theatre excels this process beyond measure. Thank you for your partnerships with schools to allow us to jointly make this possible for the children whose lives we all impact.”

“Fantastic to give students to watch a big budget show for a reduced cost. To watch the students’ eyes light up when watching the show.”

“Thank you so much for this opportunity to take students to the theatre. The subsidised ticket price really helps us to give our students the opportunity to access high-quality theatre as without this most students would struggle to be able to afford the cost of going on a trip. The warm welcome from staff at the venue also goes a long way to helping us encourage students to access live theatre as many of our students come from backgrounds without a tradition of accessing theatre and/or other cultural experiences.”

Student Feedback

Their reactions captured the immediate impact of live performance, proving how essential it is to open access for future theatre-going audiences:

“I didn’t know the theatre was like that. That’s not boring.”

“Shocked me when the seats moved for the first time. I can’t believe how close we were and the fact that people walked down the stairs near where I sat. Was really confused when it ended before they went into the arena, but then my teacher explained that it was the interval. I loved the use of fire! I could feel the heat! And all the blood and fighting was really cool!”

“It was so good, I didn’t even eat my snacks – I was too scared to miss anything.”

🎥 Watch the curtain call (with the sound on) to discover how much they loved the show!

The Education Matinee of The Hunger Games: On Stage successfully broke down financial and cultural barriers for 1,211 students across London and the surrounding counties. With a sold-out house, 37% of the audience experiencing live theatre for the very first time, and glowing reviews from students and teachers alike, this initiative fully delivered on its goals of impact and engagement.

Huge thanks to everyone involved with The Hunger Games: On Stage for making this programme possible.

Donate today to help ensure every child, regardless of background, has the chance to experience the transformative power of live theatre and open doors for the next generation.

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📸 Photo Credit: Johan Persson